The Fruit of Her Hands: Jewish and Christian Women's Work in Medieval Catalan Cities

In the late 13th century, Jewish and Christian women in Catalonia worked to support their families and communities. Sarah Ifft Decker's study, "The Fruit of Her Hands," explores how gender, socioeconomic status, and religious identity shaped their experiences. It highlights the contributions of women to urban economies, challenging traditional dichotomies between women in northern and Mediterranean Europe. Jewish women played a less active role, but they assumed prominent roles in times of communal change and crisis. The study advances our understanding of Jewish acculturation in the Iberian Peninsula and the shared experiences of women of different faiths.

Format: Hardback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 13 September 2022
Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press

In the bustling urban landscapes of late thirteenth-century Catalonia, Jewish and Christian women toiled tirelessly to provide for their families and communities. The Fruit of Her Hands delves into the intricate interplay of gender, socioeconomic status, and religious identity that shaped the lives and livelihoods of these remarkable women. Drawing upon an extensive array of notarial contracts, legal codes, urban ordinances, and Hebrew responsa literature, Sarah Ifft Decker explores the lived experiences of Jewish and Christian women in the vibrant cities of Barcelona, Girona, and Vic between 1250 and 1350. By broadening the definition of women's work to encompass household management, wage labor, and artisanal production, this study underscores the significant contributions made by women to their families and to the urban economies.

Christian women, Ifft Decker reveals, were intricately woven into the fabric of urban economic life, defying traditional dichotomies prevalent in northern and Mediterranean Europe. While Jewish women generally played a less active role compared to their Christian counterparts, Ifft Decker showcases how, in times of communal upheaval and crisis, they could and did assume prominent roles in urban economies. Through its focused examination of the unique experiences of Jewish and Christian women, The Fruit of Her Hands contributes to our understanding of Jewish acculturation in the Iberian Peninsula and the shared experiences of women of diverse faiths. This work will appeal to scholars and students specializing in gender studies, religious studies, and medieval Iberia alike.

Weight: 522g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780271093307